Nottingham Forest rejected Manchester City’s £120 million bid for midfielder Elliot Anderson, marking a record-breaking offer that surpassed Arsenal’s £105 million purchase of Declan Rice in 2023.
Negotiations between the clubs continued, but Forest insisted on a guaranteed fee above £120 million.
Manchester City intensified their search for a new midfielder after Bernardo Silva’s departure. Manager Pep Guardiola identified Elliot Anderson as the club’s top target. City submitted an initial £106 million bid, which included performance related add-ons that raised the value to £120 million. Nottingham Forest rejected both offers, holding firm on their valuation.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis led negotiations with City’s director of football Hugo Viana. Marinakis stated that Forest would only accept a guaranteed record fee, citing Declan Rice’s £105 million transfer to Arsenal and Moisés Caicedo’s £115 million move to Chelsea as benchmarks.
Marinakis explained, “We value Anderson as one of the best midfielders in the league, and we will not sell below the market standard.”
Elliot Anderson, currently with England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, expressed his desire to join Manchester City. Reports confirmed that personal terms would not be an obstacle.
Anderson appeared to bid farewell to Forest supporters during the final home game of the season against Bournemouth, when he was substituted midway through the second half.
If Manchester City secured Anderson for the proposed fee, it would surpass their £100 million signing of Jack Grealish in 2021 and set a new British transfer record for an English player. The deal would also represent the most expensive purchase in the club’s history.
Negotiations were expected to continue during the World Cup, as England manager Thomas Tuchel permitted players to complete transfers during the tournament. While Manchester United showed interest earlier, they withdrew from the race, unwilling to meet Forest’s valuation.
